Christopher & Banks Profile
Christopher & Banks Corporation operates as a specialty retailer featuring privately-branded women’s apparel and accessories in the United States.
The company offers its customers an assortment of clothing for her everyday needs. Its merchandise is developed for women of all sizes, age 50 and older with an income level from moderate to above average.
The company operates an integrated, omni-channel business platform that is designed to provide customers a retail experience with the ability to shop when and where they want, including its retail stores, outlet stores, and Website. This allows the company’s customers to browse, purchase, return, or exchange its merchandise through the channel that is optimal.
Brand
The company offers merchandise assortments that reflect a balance of novelty and basic core items. The company’s buyers, working in conjunction with its product development teams and suppliers, strive to create a merchandise assortment of co-ordinated outfits, the majority of which are manufactured for the company under its proprietary Christopher & Banks and C.J. Banks names.
Store Formats
The company’s Christopher and Banks stores offer merchandise assortments in women’s apparel and accessories for missy sizes 4 to 16 and petite sizes 4P to 16P.
The company’s C.J. Banks stores offer merchandise assortments in similar women’s apparel and accessories for women’s sizes 14W to 26W.
The company’s Missy, Petite, Women and outlet stores; and the company’s Website offer merchandise assortments from both Christopher and Banks and C.J. Banks in all three size ranges.
Merchandise
The company’s merchandise assortments include designs of women’s apparel, consisting of casual clothing, everyday basics, wear-to-work, leisure / active wear, and seasonal sleepwear in missy, petite and women sizes. The company also offers a selection of jewelry and accessories to complement its customer’s wardrobe.
Stores
The company operates stores in 45 states. The majority of the company’s stores are located in shopping malls and other retail centers.
Merchandise Distribution
The company distributes majority of its products that are sold in its stores and online from its distribution center located in Plymouth, Minnesota. Merchandise is shipped to the company’s stores through third-party delivery services multiple times per week, providing its stores with a flow of new inventory.
Merchandise sold through the company’s e-commerce channel is fulfilled directly to the customer through either its third-party service provider or from one of its stores. In 2019, the company intends to launch the ability for a customer to buy online and to pick up merchandise in the store.
Strategy
The company’s overall business strategy is to significantly improve its operating results and thereby begin the path towards sustainable, long-term revenue growth and consistent profitability through various strategic initiatives, such as improving the customer shopping experience; improving marketing and promotional effectiveness; leveraging omni-channel capabilities; building loyalty and improving its file; and optimizing its real estate portfolio.
Trademarks and Service Marks
The company is the owner of certain registered and common law trademarks and service marks (collectively referred to as ‘Marks’).
The company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Christopher & Banks Company, is the owner of the federally registered Marks ‘christopher & banks’, which is the company’s primary private brand; and ‘cj banks’, the company’s private brand for women sizes 14W to 26W.
History
The company was founded in 1956. It was incorporated in 1986. The company was formerly known as Braun’s Fashions Corporation and changed its name to Christopher & Banks Corporation in 2000.
